Tunisia announced on Wednesday that France expressed its support and backing for its request to review the provisions of the partnership agreement with the European Union and develop it, ensuring the establishment of a balanced and fair partnership that responds to current economic transformations.
This came during a call received by Tunisian Foreign Minister Mohamed Ali Nafti from his French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot, according to a statement from the Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Barrot affirmed "the support and backing of his country for Tunisia in order to review the provisions of the partnership agreement with the European Union and develop it, ensuring the establishment of a balanced and fair partnership that responds to current economic transformations".
Bilateral and international developments
Nafti and Barrot discussed "various upcoming challenges at both the bilateral and multilateral levels, and the good preparation they require, in accordance with the same best principles related to respecting the choices of national institutions, sovereignty, and mutual interests". They also "discussed aspects of existing cooperation between Tunisia and France in several fields, emphasizing the importance of continuing efforts to elevate this cooperation to broader horizons based on mutual respect and common interests".
Previous positions of the Tunisian President
Both sides appreciated "the distinguished level of joint and private investments, the pace of trade exchanges between the two countries, and tourist flows, reflecting the vitality of the existing economic partnership". Last September, Tunisian President Kais Saied renewed his country's call for a review of the partnership agreement with the European Union to ensure greater balance, justice, and fairness, during a meeting with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul.
The Presidency clarified that Saied stressed during the talks with Wadephul the "necessity to review many agreements", foremost among them the partnership agreement concluded between Tunisia and the European Union, emphasizing the importance of working on redefining the agreement to make it "more balanced and more just". This call comes within the context of repeated positions by the Tunisian President regarding the need to reconsider the nature of his country's relations with the European Union.
Background of the agreement
During a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron on March 20 last year, Saied called for a review of the partnership agreement with the European Union, aiming to make it "balanced, more just, and fair". Tunisia and the European Union signed the partnership agreement in 1995, before it entered into force in 1998. The agreement established a free trade area between the two sides and formed the main framework for economic and trade relations between Tunisia and the European Union.
In July 2023, both sides signed a memorandum of understanding on establishing a "strategic and comprehensive partnership", aimed at enhancing cooperation in several fields, including the economy, energy, and combating irregular migration. The memorandum of understanding included, alongside various cooperation axes, financial assistance directed to Tunisia, within the framework of supporting the partnership between the two sides and enhancing cooperation on files of common interest.
Source: Anadolu Agency
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